Startup aims to disrupt auto repair industry

Doctors long ago stopped making house calls, but one start-up that just launched here at TechCrunch Disrupt promises to deliver an auto mechanic right to your door.

YourMechanic launched a website that lets customers schedule auto maintenace and repair service that rolls right to their door, whether at home or at work, instead of having to drive their car into a shop or a dealership.

Mechanics drive vans completely equipped with all the tools needed for most repair jobs, including jacks to lift your car.

The service offers fixed prices based on the kinds of parts and the amount of time usually required for a particular job, and users can compare them against those of local repair shops. The site also offers customer reviews of the individual mechanics.

The Mountain View company says it can save 20 percent to 30 percent off shop service prices because its mechanics don’t have overhead costs.

The company, which has been in tests with friends and family, is launching in the San Jose area and Peninsula, with plans to expand to San Francisco in a few months. One service it won’t offer is smog tests; those require specialized equipment found in authorized smog stations.

YourMechanic is one of the start-up firms competing for a $50,000 top prize at Disrupt. It also announced a $1.8 million round of seed funding from investors that include Y Combinator.